Pakistan reach Asian Games cricket final after six-wicket win over Bangladesh
Abdul Samad’s blistering unbeaten 30 off 15 balls powered Pakistan into the Asian Games men’s cricket final as they beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-reduced semi-final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan on Thursday. Chasing 112 in 13 overs, Pakistan recovered from 53-4 to reach 112-4 in 11.3 overs, with Samad and Hasan Nawaz putting on an unbeaten 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Samad provided the decisive acceleration, hitting five fours and a six in his 15-ball innings. He took apart Mustafizur Rahman in the 10th over to swing the contest decisively Pakistan’s way. With Pakistan needing 36 from the final four overs, Hasan took a single from the first ball before Samad launched Mustafizur over long-on for six and then struck four successive boundaries. The over yielded 23 runs, with Samad collecting 22 from the five balls he faced, as Pakistan moved from 76-4 to 99-4. The target was reduced to 13 from 18 balls and Pakistan completed the chase with nine balls to spare. Hasan provided able support, remaining unbeaten on 27 from 22 balls with two fours and two sixes. Pakistan’s chase had begun uncertainly after captain Sahibzada Farhan was caught off Mahedi Hasan for one in the first over. Maaz Sadaqat made a brisk 15 from seven balls, including a six, before falling, while Saim Ayub hit 21 from 12 deliveries with a four and two sixes. Usman Khan then departed for 14, leaving Pakistan at 53-4 inside seven overs and giving Bangladesh an opening. Samad and Hasan, however, took control of the chase and guided Pakistan comfortably into Saturday’s gold-medal match. Earlier, Bangladesh, sent in to bat, made 111-7 in their allotted 13 overs. Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 42 from 25 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes, while Saif Hassan made 19. Bangladesh had slumped to 45-4 before Hridoy led a recovery. He shared a 53-run fifth-wicket partnership with Mosaddek Hossain, who made 11, but Pakistan’s spinners kept the batting side under pressure. Left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim returned 3-26, including the wickets of Hridoy and Mosaddek in the same over, while Arafat Minhas took 2-23. Saim was particularly economical, taking 1-3 from his two overs. Pakistan will face the winner of the second semi-final between India and Sri Lanka in the gold-medal match on Saturday at the same venue. Bangladesh will contest the bronze-medal match. The semi-final was one of the first meaningful matches for both sides after their quarter-finals were abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain, with all four quarter-finals affected by the weather.
Pakistan reached the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games after beating Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-reduced semi-final at Korogi Sports Park on Thursday.
In a match reduced to 13 overs per side because of a wet outfield, Bangladesh were restricted to 111-7 before Pakistan chased down the target with nine balls to spare, reaching 112-4 in 11.3 overs.
Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan won the toss and opted to field, and his bowlers quickly put Bangladesh under pressure on a surface offering turn.
Arafat Minhas dismissed Tanzid Hasan, caught by Farhan at the second attempt, before removing Parvez Hossain Emon. Saim Ayub then bowled Bangladesh captain Litton Das with a delivery that beat his attempted reverse sweep, while left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim trapped Saif Hassan leg before wicket to leave Bangladesh struggling at 45-4.
Towhid Hridoy led Bangladesh’s recovery, hitting 42 off 25 balls with two fours and four sixes. He added 53 with Mosaddek Hossain, who scored 11, to take Bangladesh past 100.
Sufyan returned to break the partnership, having Hridoy caught by Ayub before dismissing Mosaddek in the same over. Rishad Hossain was run out off the final ball as Bangladesh finished on 111-7.
Sufyan claimed 3-26, while Arafat took 2-23. Saim was particularly economical, conceding only three runs in his two overs while taking one wicket.
Pakistan’s chase got off to a shaky start as Farhan was caught off Mahedi Hasan for one in the first over. Maaz Sadaqat, who struck a six in his seven-ball 15, fell soon afterwards.
Saim counter-attacked with 21 off 12 balls, including a four and two sixes, before being dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman. Usman Khan then made 14 as Pakistan slipped to 53-4, giving Bangladesh hope of a comeback.
Hasan Nawaz, unbeaten on 27 off 22 balls, and Abdul Samad, who made an unbeaten 30 off 15 deliveries with five fours and a six, ended those hopes with an unbroken 59-run stand.
Samad attacked the Bangladesh bowling before hitting the winning runs in the 12th over.
The victory guarantees Pakistan at least a silver medal and puts them in Saturday’s final. Bangladesh will play in the bronze-medal match.
Both teams had reached the semi-finals without playing their quarter-finals, which were abandoned because of rain.
The victory gives the relatively young Pakistan side a chance to compete for the Asian Games gold under Farhan’s leadership.